The limited existing literature on the history of Guyana’s archaeology has received a boost with the official launch of the University of Guyana Press (UGP) publication, “The Archaeology of Guyana, Second Edition”, a University of Guyana (UG) release on Tuesday stated.
The launch took place on July 12 in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT), Turkeyen Campus, University of Guyana.
It noted that the publication is the first of its kind and represents “a moment of pride and accomplishment” for authors, Dr Mark Plew, and UG’s Louisa Daggers, PhD (ABD), both of whom who have been engaged in the project for a number of years.
The book provides a synthesis of Guyana’s position in South American prehistory. Using the Holocene as a temporal backdrop – from which most of the region’s archaeology is known – the authors were able to capture a summary of research that has been done over the years which has helped bring to light “the extent and richness” of human occupation in Guyana, the release informed.
Daggers, a lecturer in the Department of Language and Cultural Studies, UG, delivered remarks on the cultural importance of the book to the Guyanese populace and by extension the Caribbean. She said that the publication seeks to redefine over 100 years of research into less technical phenomena.
“It really is upon us to safeguard the heritage as it is at risk to changing developmental dynamics including illicit trade, mining and a global phenomenon, climate change and, yes, climate change, it does have sites vulnerable to flooding, to erosion and damages over time and all of this requires us to be more proactive in the management and preservation of our heritage.”
The author opined that Guyanese archaeology constitutes a very significant aspect of global heritage. “Guyanese archaeology is one which can unify us if it’s acknowledged, but we must safeguard this heritage for the future.”
The book was described as a valuable resource for those interested in the history of human occupation in northern South America, as well as an important point of reference for scholars working elsewhere such as the Caribbean which likely had ties to Guyana at different points in time.
During the book launch at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT), Turkeyen Campus, University of Guyana Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, congratulated the authors of the publication noting that their excellent work captured in the book will add significantly to the existing literature on Guyana’s archaeology.
“I am really happy to see this book completed because it took such a long time to get done. Not only because of COVID but because the Editor-in-Chief of the University of Guyana Press, Professor George K. Danns, insisted that anything that had to be addressed in this book had to be done perfectly”, she said.
She described the book as a “wonderful work of love and labour. This is a wonderful addition to a very small but growing literature on the archaeology of Guyana,” she said, while praising the work of the UG Press and disclosing that the UGP is aiming to publish at least one book per quarter in this initial phase
Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said that that while he was Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport he recognised that archaeology in Guyana was not properly highlighted and so sought to implement a programme with one of the authors, Dr Plew, to involve local students in the museum field school.
“We wanted local people to go out into the field, I think that led to us building capacity. Today, Ms Daggers is a product of that programme and I am so proud to celebrate this book.”
In his brief remarks, Chair of the UGP Editorial Board; Professor Danns, applauded the Press and the Vice-Chancellor for their efficient work in ensuring that the book materialised. “I would personally like to thank the VC for her vision. As the Press has gone through a period of structural adjustment and it is now open and running.”
Copies of the book were handed over to the University of Guyana Library repositories, Guyana National Library, National Toshaos Council and the South Rupununi District Council as well as all the Indigenous persons present at the launch.
Copies of the book are available at the University of Guyana Campus Store and the University of Guyana Press at a cost of $5,500. The University of Guyana Campus Store can be reached at: https://store.uog.edu.gy/productcategory/books while UGP Senior Publications Officer, Melissa Bess, can be reached at (592) 624-6160.
